Katherine K. Sanford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Abstract: Processes for detecting compounds which protect against fluorescent light-induced DNA lesions, in particular DNA lesions which are induced by oxygen free radicals, are disclosed. The methods of the present invention encompass modifying G.sub.1 -phase test and/or G.sub.2 -phase tests so that a compound which is suspected of being capable of protecting against the formation of fluorescent light-induced DNA lesions (i.e., a suspected "DNA protectant"), such as an anti-oxidant or free-radical scavenger, is added to the cell cultures prior to irradiation of the cell cultures with fluorescent light or x-rays. Addition of a DNA protectant to cultures of human skin fibroblasts or PHA-stimulated blood lymphocytes significantly reduces the frequency of radiation-induced chromatid breaks so that there is a small, preferably no, statistical difference in the frequency of radiation-induced chromatid breaks in Alzheimer disease cells in the presence or absence of caffeine in the G.sub.

Type:
Grant

Filed:
May 7, 1997

Date of Patent:
January 25, 2000

Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services

Abstract: A process for aiding in the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease is disclosed in which the frequency of chromatid breaks and gaps is calculated in G.sub.1 -phase fluorescent-light-irradiated skin fibroblasts or stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes after the addition of the DNA repair inhibitor caffeine or in G.sub.2 -phase fluorescent-light-irradiated skin fibroblasts or stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes after the addition of the DNA repair inhibitor 1.beta.-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C). In the G.sub.1 -phase test, the presence of Alzheimer disease is indicated when the total frequency of breaks and gaps caused by caffeine in the cells being examined is higher than the total frequency caused by caffeine in the normal cells. In the G.sub.2 -phase test, the presence of Alzheimer disease is indicated when the total frequency of breaks and gaps in the presence of ara-C is much less in the cells being examined than in normal cells.

Type:
Grant

Filed:
March 8, 1996

Date of Patent:
June 30, 1998

Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services

Abstract: A process for determining genetic susceptibility to cancer is disclosed in which the frequency of chromatid breaks and gaps is calculated in metaphase skin fibroblasts or stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes after x-irradiation or fluorescent light exposure. Susceptibility to cancer is found when the frequency of breaks and gaps in the cell sample is two to three-fold higher than that occurring in comparable cells from control individuals. Various factors have been found which influence the accuracy of the test results. These factors include pH, temperature, cell density, culture medium or serum, microbial contamination and visible light exposure (effective wavelength 500 nm). Additionally, because of experimental variability, known normal controls are suggested for use in each test group.

Type:
Grant

Filed:
November 14, 1988

Date of Patent:
June 12, 1990

Assignee:
United States of America Represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services